Wildlife, landscape and weather photography
A graphic image but nature is like that sometimes.
I happened across this guy writhing around on the ground and had a hard time figuring out what its issue was until it turned its head just right. It appeared something – a raptor or other predator – took a nasty bite out of it.
It was certainly not long for this world. It wasn’t a particularly big snake, maybe 3 1/2 feet long or so.
If you’re on foot or riding your bike and you come across one of these, you better give a wide birth. This rattlesnake was sunning itself on the road going up Waterton Canyon and if it weren’t for another shutterbug pointing it out, I may very well have rode right over or by it. As is, it made for a nice photo op of this deadly creature.
It was only about 4 feet long and as you can tell in the background, had a pretty good size rattle on it. Thankfully it was quite calm although I certainly kept my distance and didn’t give it any reason to get mad. 😉 I do wish it had coiled up though as that would have made for a better picture.
While out taking pictures of burrowing owls near Denver International Airport yesterday something in one burrow caught my eye. Approaching cautiously – and using my zoom lens to get a closer look – I found a Prairie Rattlesnake had taken over the hole. From now on I will be a lot more cautious where I step when in that area. 😉
